Mandatory Password Reset Requirements

This question asks if your system forces users to create their own password when they first log in or after an administrator resets it. Instead of giving users a temporary password they might keep using, the system requires them to immediately create their own secret password that even administrators don't know, ensuring only the user knows their credentials.

Forcing password resets ensures that only the authorized user knows their password, meeting HIPAA's requirements for unique user identification and authentication. Without this, administrators could know user passwords, destroying accountability and creating compliance violations. This is a standard security expectation - lacking it raises serious questions about your overall security architecture.

Many systems email temporary passwords that never expire, allowing users to keep using insecure credentials indefinitely. Another mistake is allowing administrators to see the new password during reset, or not requiring the new password to meet security complexity requirements, both undermining the security benefit.